The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-06-27
PROHIBITION IN MAINE,

Tho "Noice'B' CHnd1r Oh tho Subsection.
EnfOrcpment of tho Law.
NrlD lDrk TribuH.
II speaks we'll ior the csndor OF the
Foice that it 10 apparently trying to get al
tho truth as TO prohibition in Maine, and
that it is publishing the information with.
out regard to its Bearing upon the theory
OF which that journal is the organ. The
Voice has been putting questions to repre-.
sentative men i'll Bangor 80 to the en-.
iorComent there OF tho prohibitoxy law
as to the rea6onp foS iss pou-enforceneut
il it is not enforced; IS to tho prospect Tor
support Of enforcement by the sentiment
Of the community, and SO to the propriety
OF enforcing the Law. The It0ice prints
answeTs from eighteen pernons-clergy.
men, Physicians and lawyers Tor the most
part. They agree in saying chat the pro-
hibitory iGw liz not enforced. They do not
agree i'll the Teasona Tor Eon-enforcement.
They differ T!dsly SO to the readiness OF
public Sentiment 10 support the law. 1t is
in tho anBwer6 10 this third question that
tho mOat suggestive and significant state.
ment5 are made. Let no remember that
Maine hos hid thirty years experience o!
prohihitory Legislation, aud that the most
etrineeIt and drastic statutes over framed
anywhere for tho purpose Of preventing
tho public from drinking by force and
computation have been tested IN tina. State
with fidelity and rigor which muat have
evolved whatever virtues those statutes
posseeaad. II 10 after a generation Of thiB
kind CT legislation that many Intelligent
observers think 1t impossible to secure
public support for further enforcement Of
prohibition.
The Rev. Joseph Smith says 10 the
IOicG: ITO the question whether public
sentiment would sanction vigorous eli.
iorCemenG OF tho pTohibitUry laT, can
only give qualified answer" He thiuks
the women would support ths lRw II they
had political Btsndiug, and perhaps the
msjority Of men sHisht il they wore not
controlled by political considerations. The
Inference, of course, is that popular con-
yiCtlon On tho merits OF prohibition has
undergone rescsion, aine5 ii The old en-.
thusisgm survived it would master poli-
tics and not be mastered by them. J. A.
Clough, NJ. D., sAys: ~ do not believe
that the sentiment of the commnnity in
Bangor would Rustain or favor the en-
forGement OF the prohibitory law" II. Q.
GocdenOw, lawyer, thinks that public
opinion 'moet likely would be easily ed
ucated by e Judicial enforcement OF tbs
law up TO the point Of favor
ing Hulh iudicious enforcement" OF
course this Is noneepse. II 6 quarter of
century Of experiment in prohibition hae
not educated" public opinion to belief
in the doctrine, TO further "judic!ous en-.
forcement" IL likely to change the general
opinion on the subject. Tho correspon-
dent really gives away the caHa Of the pro-
hiOitiouigls. Matthew Lsughlin, lawyer,
believes that .'as En- abstract question: q
majority OF tho citizens Of Bangor are in
favor OF the suppression OF tue LIQUOR
traffic by tho strong arm OF the law. but
viewing the question from practical
point OF view (he continues) | eau eately
say that but small part Of the citizens Of
Bangor wish to eco tho revival OF Jew
ardism, IS they call it. (Jeward was the
oheritf who attempted rigid enforcement
OF the law.)" This correspondent thinks
tho majority would favor high license
law with local option, and this also is
significant.
j. u. Warren, lawyer, says: ~ do not
believe the enforcement OF the Law could
be eustained." Sumner Laughton, NJ. D.,
is OF opinion thnt "sidc from tho political
elements public sentiment would suatain
enforcement, but 1t would be rather weak.
kneed about election times" Which 10 to
say that public sentiment would not Eus-
tain enforcement at the polls, the only
place where effective support could be
given to 1t. George P. Jeieris, n. D.,
holds that majority Of the voters could
not be got TO sustain enforcement OF the
law. Peregrins White, lawyer, Observer.
81 do no. believe the sentiment Of this
community would sustain such q move
ment" (tor enforcement OF Pfohibition).
And he, holds that 'public sentiment
while it is undoubtedly in accord with the
temperance movement on general princi.
pies, is not up to the isnstical requirements
OF the prohibitory law; and although tho
law has not only become organic with US,
but was actually hero originated, 1t has